Albuquerque Student Earns a Career in the Art of Dentistry

As a kid, Israel Dominguez developed a lifelong love of drawing. He appreciated the precision and how it forced him to focus on details. It also taught him the value of patience.

Years later, while researching career training programs at United Education Institute (UEI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he discovered those same qualities in an unexpected place.

“I liked the aspects of how dentistry was so intricate,” Israel said. “You have to be very specific in preparation, placement, and everything else. I kind of see it as an art form.”

Today, after completing UEI’s Dental Assistant program and securing a job at the same clinic where he completed his externship, Israel is building a career in a field he says feels surprisingly natural for this very reason.

Finding the Right Career Environment

Before enrolling at UEI, Israel had explored several other paths. This included attending community college for a semester, but the traditional academic environment never clicked with him.

“I dropped out multiple times because I didn’t want to go to school at the time,” he said. “I was working the night shift in a warehouse, and then I was off for about four years before going to UEI.”

He later worked briefly at the U.S. Post Office, then started working at an after-school program for children. He enjoyed this role, but he still found himself looking for a long-term option that offered stability and greater opportunities for growth.

“I realized I needed a new career choice,” he said.

When Israel began researching trade schools online, UEI popped up. He scheduled a campus tour, during which admissions staff walked him through all the available programs. And while HVAC caught his eye at first, the Dental Assistant program kept calling to him.

“It’s a topic that kind of interested me growing up,” he said. “I was never afraid of being at the dentist when I was a kid, and it piqued my interest to see what was happening behind the scenes.”

Once classes began, he quickly realized the program’s emphasis on practical training aligned with the way he learned best.

“I enjoyed the hands-on part of it,” Israel said. “It was definitely a better experience than being in a book and staring at text. I liked being able to catch on to the habits of things before I was actually in the field.”

Israel also said he appreciated learning from instructors who brought years of professional experience into the classroom.

“My dental teacher, Janesa Herrera, always had an answer when I needed it,” he said. “She always knew how to assist us in understanding the concepts of what we were learning and putting them into situations so we understood what we were seeing, what we needed to do, and how to be prepared.”

Turning an Interest into a Career in Dentistry

Israel completed his externship at a public health clinic that serves both medical and dental patients. The experience gave him his first opportunity to apply everything he’d learned in a real-world setting.

“It went great,” he said. “They immediately wanted to hire me my first month there. I currently work there now.”

Working in a busy clinic has reinforced the importance of staying flexible during his shift and paying attention to every detail.

“It’s been great, honestly,” Israel said. “I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it. The doctors know how to guide you. They provide you with information and notes on how to improve and help during each appointment. You have to be on your toes in the dental field because not every appointment is going to be the same.”

That variety, he added, is part of what keeps him engaged.

The profession has even encouraged him to think differently about his future. Before enrolling at UEI, pursuing additional education wasn’t something he seriously considered. Today, he’s open to possibilities that once seemed out of reach.

“It’s inspired me to maybe go back to school and try dental school,” Israel said. “It’s not concrete or set in stone, but dental assisting made me realize that I actually do really enjoy this field of work.”

For students considering the Dental Assistant program, Israel encourages them to stay prepared while remaining adaptable.

“Study up on the knowledge as much as you can,” he said. “The way to make the appointments easier is to know what’s coming next, but always expect the unexpected. Things can change in an instant, and you have to be ready for it.”

And if he has questions or needs support, Israel said he knows where to turn. Because even after graduation, many of the relationships he built at UEI have remained intact.

“I still talk to some of my classmates to this day, even after externship,” he said. “We keep up with each other and how we’re doing.”